Friedrich Engels was a German philosopher, social scientist, journalist, and businessman, who is best known for his collaboration with Karl Marx in developing the theory of Marxism. Born on November 28, 1820, in Barmen, Prussia (now part of Wuppertal, Germany), Engels came from a well-to-do family that owned textile factories, which exposed him to the harsh realities of industrial capitalism early in his life.
Engels was educated at the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium in Elberfeld and later studied at the University of Berlin. It was during his time in Berlin that he was influenced by the works of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and began to develop his political ideas.
In 1842, Engels met Karl Marx in Cologne, marking the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Together, they published several seminal works:
Engels made significant contributions to Marxist theory, particularly in areas concerning:
After Marx's death in 1883, Engels continued to spread their ideas, editing and publishing Marx's unfinished manuscripts. Engels himself passed away on August 5, 1895, in London, England. His legacy includes: